Ancient, medieval, Islamic and world history -- comments, resources and discussion.

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Huda Sha’rawi speaks

While we all marvel at the role women have taken in the recent Arab revolutions, especially in Egypt,Huda Sha’rawi, an early 20th-century Egyptian activist, reminds us that we've been here before:

Exceptional women appear at certain moments in history and are moved by special forces. Men view these women as supernatural beings and their deeds as miracles... In moments of danger, when women emerge by their side, men utter no protest. Yet women’s great acts and endless sacrifices do not change men’s views of women. Through their arrogance, men refuse to see the capabilities of women....

A relevant thought, if not a happy one, for International Women's Day #100.